home

AXiS

summer programs

  Alicia Parrish 

Director, Owner, Certified Gyrotonic^® Trainer

A Bay Area native and mother of three, Alicia has been teaching classical ballet for over 15 years. She has trained since the age of 5 at bay area classical ballet schools including the Oakland Ballet. As a dancer, she has performed soloist roles in ballets such as A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Sleeping Beauty, as well as the Snow Queen and other roles in productions of The Nutcracker. She also has early childhood training and education experience through the state of CA. As an older teen and young adult she trained extensively under Magdalene Parungau-Ferla, Director of Dance Theatre International, giving her the opportunity not only to train under but to learn to teach from and dance alongside the highest caliber of world class dancers and teachers from world renowned companies such as the Hamburg Ballet, Ballet Bejart, San Francisco Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Lines Contemporary Ballet and others. This has helped to mold the teacher she is today. More recently Alicia served as Artistic Director for the non profit youth company, Eastside Youth Dance Theatre in the 2006 full length production of “A Nutcracker Story.” She founded Issaquah Dance Theatre in 2001 starting with just several students in one small studio space. Many of those same students continue at IDT today. Alicia’s love of movement drew her to train to become a certified GYROTONIC® Trainer in 2005 under Master Trainer Karen Mullen, which in turn enhances her qualifications as a ballet teacher. Her students are not only technically precise but have learned how to work in ways that promote healthy habits and reduce the risk of injury. Alicia is a favorite amongst all of her students, known for her passionate, inspirational and energetic approach to teaching students of all ages, from the toddlers to adults.

Scott Parrish,  B.A., LMP, CSP, Reiki Master Teacher, Co-Owner

From San Jose, CA; Scott was a member of the “South Side Breakers”, a break dancing squad in the SF Bay Area, and danced with the performing dance group “Soul Fathers.” At this time he pursued interests  as an MC (rap artist), spending four years in the music industry working with various producers and performing at many venues when he went on to produce and release his own single in the group, “Triple da Soul”, called “My Inspiration," opening for “Naughty by Nature” in the early 90's.   

Scott substitute teaches for our hip hop classes at IDT.  In the meantime, he is an extremely skilled and respected massage therapist and body worker holding his biology degree from UC Santa Cruz... where he greatly misses the surf! 
 

Danelle Brust-Watson

Danelle is both instructor and AXiS Dance Company founder at IDT.  She started studying dance and gymnastics at the age of 2 from her mother, who has run a large successful dance school in Indiana for over 30 years. She received a BFA from the State University of New York at Purchase and performed in several companies in New York City. She has performed works by Mark Morris, Martha Graham, Balanchine, Jose Limon, Paul Taylor, Kevin Wynn, and many others. Her choreography for students received numerous awards including best choreography and high scoring numbers at national competitions and has served as a judge at regional talent competitions.   She is also on the faculty at Spectrum Dance Theatre and is a licensed massage practitioner from The National Holistic Institute in CA and through the State of Washington.  She is truly passionate as a teacher for students of all ages.  Danelle will be on an extended leave of absence beginning in May while she assists her husband in a business venture in Hawaii.  We hope she enjoys her time in the sun and anxiously await her return! 

Sally Lowell  

Sally has been dancing for over 40 years.  She trained at Oakland Ballet, Houston Ballet and with various teachers in London. Her stage experience includes performances with the Oakland Ballet.  She holds a RAD teaching certificate from both the children's levels and the Majors (pre-professional) Levels.  She has served as Director of ballet schools in California for 10 years, taught at Berkeley Ballet Theatre, East Bay Center for the Performing Arts,  Island Youth Ballet on Mercer Island,  and has choreographed for and directed two youth companies.   She brings to IDT many years of experience and knowledge as a teacher and developing syllabus for all ballet levels.  She is known for her calm energy in classes, as well as very creative children's classes where all escape into an imaginary theme for the day! 
 

Melissa Gould  

Melissa Gould is a graduate of San Jose State University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance and was voted "Best Choreographer". She has been a dance teacher for studios in San Jose and Las Vegas where many of her dance troupes won National Championships. During her professional dance career she performed in Japan, Korea, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Guam and for Norwegian Cruise Lines. She is a Musical Theatre lover and has choreographed over a dozen shows for city theatre groups and high schools. Her choreography has been seen in several dance concerts, musicals, nightclub revues, fashion shows and choreography showcases. Her passion for inspiring young dancers led her to create youth dance companies in San Jose and Las Vegas with repertories including jazz, tap, lyrical, hip-hop, musical theatre and modern works. A dance instructor for 22 years, Melissa has students who are now performing professionally themselves in music videos, Las Vegas productions and NFL and NBA cheerleading squads. She most recently was a member of the dance faculty of the Washington Academy of Performing Arts in Redmond. Melissa is known for her intense dance style, challenging classes and entertaining choreography.

Gretchen Alterowitz

Gretchen is originally from Montana where she received her early training in ballet. She has studied with some of the most well known ballet teachers in the United States including Patricia Wilde, Basil Thompson, George de la Pena, and Stanley Holden. This year she is traveling to China to perform in the cultural festival associated with the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Gretchen received her MFA in Dance from the University of Iowa in 2005. Currently she teaches, choreographs, and performs in Seattle, WA.
 

  Rachel Gourd

Rachel will be teaching ballet at IDT this year and filling in for Ms. Alicia while on Maternity leave.  She received her ballet training at The School of The San Francisco Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Cornish College of the Arts, Steps on Broadway and other notable schools, and additionally holds a Bachelor's Degree with High Distinction from The University of Minnesota.  She has trained under revered teachers of American ballet such as David Howard, Maria Tallchief and Laryssa Sklyanskaya.  Rachel also teaches ballet at Spectrum Dance Theatre in Seattle.  Welcome, Rachel!

   Robyne Henderson

Robyne has been teaching and working with children for over 20 years. She has a B.A. from Cal State Fullerton in Musical Theatre and has spent many years teaching creative movement, ballet, tap and jazz dance classes, music, drama, acting, and musical theatre classes, has been a substitute in the public school system, and has even taught horseback riding lessons for kids. Currently, Robyne teaches preschool music and is in the process of launching her own music and movement program. She's been a mom for over eight years.  She has also enjoyed a career as a professional performer. A member of the Actors Equity Association, Robyne has performed all over the U.S. in musicals and plays. She has sung with several jazz and pop bands, and has appeared in commercials and films. Recently, she spent a lot of time in the recording studio at McGraw-Hill creating voices for interactive learning videos.  Last year she spent the holiday season dancing and caroling along Snowflake Lane in downtown Bellevue.  Robyn is amazing with the children and we are proud to have her on the resident faculty here at IDT! 

Emily Andres

Emily will be teaching some of our children's classes this year at IDT!  Her training began here in the Seattle area and continued on with the ballet conservatory at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts.  Emily has completed her Classical Ballet and Modern Exams administered by The Royal Academy of Dance in England and was accepted into The Universal Ballet Summer Program in Washington D.C.  Her repertoire includes various performances and major works including Cinderella, The Blue Bird, Secret Garden, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, Le Bayadere, Tarantella and the Love Pas De Duex.  Emily has also danced with New Vision Dance Company under the direction of Melissa Gould.  In addition to her extensive ballet training, she has also studied for years in Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Choreography and other contemporary styles.  She has a wonderful, sweet and caring personality that the children love.  Welcome to IDT, Emily! 

Mandy Riedinger, Student Apprentice

Mandy has served as apprentice and assistant teacher for IDT during the past 2006-07 school year and has been a protégé of Ms. Melissa since they met at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts in the musical theater department.  Mandy is a beautiful and passionate dancer who has trained in many different dance disciplines for the past 10 years.  She has won numerous high scoring, best overall awards and scholarships at regional and national dance competitions and recently auditioned for the hit reality TV show, "So You Think You Can Dance?"  Her commitment level and positive attitude are contagious!  While in college and continuing her own dance training, Mandy will be performing with us at IDT, training as an apprentice teacher with IDT for 2007-08 school year as well as assisting higher level classes. 

Hillary Pond  

Hillary holds a degree in Modern Dance from Brigham Young University, and teaches children's movement and tap classes at many different studios in the Seattle and Eastside cities.  She has over 5 years experience teaching children's classes of all ages and currently teaches tap and creative dance here at IDT. 

Elizabeth Bray

From San Diego, CA, Elizabeth danced with the California Ballet and New West Ballet where she performed principal and soloist roles in Ballets such as The Nutcracker and Coppelia among many others. She taught and choreographed there and at Palomar College. She later continued to dance as a student at Northern Arizona University. Elizabeth is a mother of two and a mom here at IDT. After taking some time away to focus on the most important job of being a mother, dance has come back into her life after meeting Melissa Gould and joining her New Vision Dance Company 2 years ago.  Elizabeth began substitute teaching for us this winter and plans to stay on as a permanent teacher for the 2008-09 school year.

Former and Substitute Teachers

Yanina ("Yana") Mikhaylyuk

Yana trained at the Professional Ballet Academy in Khabarovsk, Russia.  She holds a Master's Degree in Folk Artistic Work from the St. Petersburg Art University with Natalia Dudinskaja.  She has performed professionally in musical theater in Russia since the age of 10.  Since living in Washington, she has taught classical ballet at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts, Ballet Bellevue and has held master classes at the Pacific Northwest Ballet.  Yana is now a mother of two, has earned herself a following of students throughout the Eastside. 

Lina Korsmo Johnson

Lina was trained at Skagit Valley Academy of Dance in Mt. Vernon, WA.  At SVAD, Lina trained in classical ballet, jazz, and tap and performed in The Nutcracker including the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy.  Lina also competed in numerous Dance Educators of America competitions where she won a ballet scholarship for her pointe variation.  She attended Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in 1994.  Lina earned academic and dance scholarships to attend Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma where she received a B.A. in Print/Broadcast Journalism and a Dance Minor.  Lina was a member and choreographer for the PLU Dance Ensemble.  After graduating from PLU, Lina danced professionally with SD Prism Dance Theatre and Fusion Dance Company in Seattle.  Lina was a lead dancer and assistant choreographer for Ballet Bellevue’s Jazz Nutcracker in 2002.  She has choreographed local musicals including “Grease” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”.  She worked at the Daily Journal of Commerce as an editor for several years before leaving to pursue dance full time.  Lina has worked with prominent teachers and choreographers Anthony Manuel, Sonia Dawkins, Duane George, Alice Bergeson, Elisio Pitta, Frank Hatchett, and attended classes at Westlake Dance Center, Spectrum Dance, PNBS, and the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Center Chicago.  Lina is the co-Artistic Director of Seattle Jazz Dance Company and is currently on her second maternity leave.

Live Accompanists  Margie Tenman, stay tuned for more names...!

Teacher Assistants:  Elizabeth Hoffman, Alisa Rasmussan, McKenzie Morrison, Jenny Hubbard, Olivia Kramer, Anne Gutcher.